Chapter 300 Smooth-tongued

The two looked at each other, and from his eyes, they understood what he was thinking.

He disguised himself as a treacherous villain, seizing and plundering as he appeared. Once he gained power, he took revenge on his former benefactor, seizing the woman and her property.

To wipe away the shame.

Yao Qingling frowned slightly: "Wouldn't this be too unfair to you?"

He was a former general, known for his strict discipline and lack of bad reputation, except for his killing of surrendered soldiers. But after becoming a civil official in the capital, he gained power and became a sycophant, bullying men and women.

Does he not care about his reputation?

Lin Shiyuan smiled indifferently.

He held Qingling in his arms and sighed softly, "Reputation? In this world, in this capital city, do you think reputation still matters?"

Yao Qingling couldn't answer.

She valued reputation and honor, and especially could not tolerate the Marquis's mansion, which her father had risked his life for, being trampled upon and ruined by her uncle's family. Yet, as his daughter, she collaborated with ruthless bandits and even expanded their business.

Her original intention was to save her own life and give the bandits a chance to reform, so that fewer people would be displaced. But if one day people found out that the employees in her shop were murderous bandits, how would the people view her?

What is right, and what is wrong?

Lin Shiyuan said, "Do you know why my killing of surrendered soldiers has brought such a great calamity?"

Yao Qingling shook her head: "The charge they gave you... is obstructing peace talks?"

Lin Shiyuan sneered: "My army is invincible, and we could have won that battle. But some people don't want to fight, so they want to convict me. Some people are afraid of me, afraid that my military achievements are too high, and afraid that my good reputation will hinder their grand plans."

“Killing surrendered soldiers? Compared to the military achievements I have made, this is just a minor mistake. But they are making a mountain out of a molehill because they can’t find a better reason to take my life.”

Lin Shiyuan had a good reputation in the southern region. The people supported him, the army obeyed him, and the enemy feared him.

He didn't rob the people, strictly managed his subordinates, refused bribes, and didn't indulge in women. This made it difficult for some people to find a reason to attack him.

The inability to find a point of attack is even more frightening.

"After arriving in the capital, I began to understand. Being a good official means dying quickly. You have to leave behind something that people will criticize in order to put their minds at ease."

This was true for his political enemies, and it was also true for the emperor.

He smiled calmly: "Anyway, my reputation was already bad when I imprisoned you. What difference would a little more make? Besides, I only stole one woman from you to wipe away my shame. It leaves people with the impression that I'm 'petty,' which makes some people hesitant to offend me. That's a kind of protection."

Yao Qingling continued, "I am the Empress's person, and you are the Emperor's person. If we are forced into marriage, the Empress will see me as a spy placed by your side."

Lin Shiyuan pinched her nose: "Smart."

Yao Qingling felt the tightness in her chest dissipate.

She touched the wound on his forehead: "Does it still hurt?"

He held her hand, kissed it on the lips, and said, "A kiss from you will make it stop hurting."

"So cheesy." Yao Qingling pulled her hand back and tapped his forehead. "Why are you being so glib?"

Lin Shiyuan: "..."

He had been reading a lot of storybooks these past few days, trying to learn the sweet nothings from them, all in an effort to coax her, but she actually started to complain.

Yao Qingling poured him a glass of water, and the two shared it. Qingling still wanted to ask him, "How did you know I was at the dock? And how did you know I was upset?"

Lin Shiyuan's eyes flickered.

Qingling noticed his gaze. In a corner that was not easily noticed, was where Nie Yun was hiding—quiet and sheltered from the wind.

Yao Qingling narrowed her eyes: "Nie Yun told you, right?"

Nie Yun was her personal bodyguard, and she overheard Xia Chan's conversation while she was at the shop.

Lin Shiyuan, without blushing or panting, said, "Nie Yun is my subordinate. If the person she's protecting is in a bad mood, she has a responsibility to inform her master."

Qingling pouted: "Do you know that Xia Chan also told me a method?"

—Even with her excellent hearing, Nie Yun couldn't hear the whispers that Xia Chan made to her.

Lin Shiyuan raised an eyebrow: "What method?"

Qingling thought of Xia Chan's bad idea, and chuckled to herself, her ears turning red with embarrassment.

Lin Shiyuan shook her and pressed, "What method?"

Yao Qingling sniffed, composed her smile, glanced back at him, and was still too embarrassed to say anything.

"You don't need to know, anyway, you've already used your method."

At this moment, Lou Yue came over to call us for dinner.

Yao Qingling took the opportunity to run away.

After dinner, Lin Shiyuan and Qingling spent some more time together in the room, and Lin Shiyuan left only after Qingling fell asleep.

Tonight, the cicadas are on duty.

Lin Shiyuan went outside and asked Xia Chan, "What idea did you and she come up with?"

Xia Chan was quite frank. She said, "All the prefectures are preparing for spring banquets. In the capital, spring banquets are a good time for men and women to meet. Minister Lin has attended quite a few banquets recently, so you should be able to tell, right?"

Lin Shiyuan nodded.

Xia Chan continued, "Find a banquet where both Miss Lin and Minister Lin are present, and if they accidentally get 'drug-induced,' since both of them are people of high status, they will have no choice but to get married even without an imperial decree."

Lin Shiyuan: "How dare you!"

No wonder Yao Qingling blushed and refused to say anything.

"How much will this affect Qingling's nickname!"

Xia Chan said, "That's why we chose a banquet of a high-ranking official to carry out this. If a scandal breaks out, the official will have to bear most of the responsibility, be scolded, and punished. But the young lady and the vice minister can get married because of this. To mitigate the impact, the emperor will also give more rewards and personally bestow the marriage upon them."

"With the Emperor's bestowal of marriage, no one else can say anything more."

"The Vice Minister is now a favorite of the Emperor, and many prestigious families want him as their son-in-law. Even those powerful men wouldn't dare to do that, but their wives and daughters would use dirty tricks to keep him. We're just using them to accomplish our own goals."

Lin Shiyuan narrowed his eyes, looking at the little girl in front of him.

No wonder Yao Qingling values ​​her so highly; she's incredibly capable when it comes to getting things done.

Xia Chan glanced at him, then suddenly curtsied to Lin Shiyuan: "Lord Lin cherishes Miss so much that he is willing to bear the infamy himself. I am ashamed of the idea I came up with."

She lowered her head, willingly admitting her mistake and accepting punishment.

Lin Shiyuan looked at her for a while, then waved his hand and said, "Never mind."

He didn't say anything more.

The next day, when Lin Shiyuan went to the morning court, everyone noticed a large bump on his forehead.

The news that he harassed Yao Qingling at the dock and even carried her into the Marquis's mansion spread yesterday afternoon.

Therefore, everyone guessed that Lin Shiyuan had been beaten up by the feisty Yao Qingling.

Those court officials who disliked Lin Shiyuan were in high spirits. The petty man had gotten his way; he deserved to be beaten.

After the emperor finished his court session, he specially kept Lin Shiyuan behind, saying that his behavior was too reckless.

He glanced at the pouch on Lin Shiyuan's forehead, casually tossed the folded paper onto the table, and then opened the next book.

"Yao Qingling is, after all, a Lady of Imperial Decree personally bestowed by me. You should show her more respect. Moreover, I have heard that she once took you in. You should treat her with even more courtesy. The Censorate is just looking for someone to scold."

Lin Shiyuan bowed respectfully and said, "Your humble servant understands."

Emperor Jingyan glanced at him and, judging from his expression, knew that although he said he knew, he still didn't change his mind.

However, there's no need to dwell on it.

Since they are his weapon, as long as they are loyal to him, it doesn't matter if they are arrogant.